Judy Cutchins Opening Reception at Mudfire

My friend and MudFire member Judy Cutchins combines her love of the nature and interest in science with her love of art in her stunning pottery. As a photgrapher, illustrator, and author, Judy developed a keen eye for observing the natural world and has translated it into sgraffito on her pottery. Coming from Italian for "scratch" - Sgraffito means to incise the surface of a pot covered with a contrasting slip to reveal a drawing - surface depth, carving style, and color help to further define the work.

Loon Covered Jar by Judy Cutchins

The gallery reception is tonight, June 7 from 5pm - 9pm. You can come to the gallery and meet Judy and talk about her work, how she creates and discuss her style of sgraffito.

The ancients believed inanimate objects such as pottery had a soul. I
can understand why they thought this. It comes from the ground, where
life sustaining plants grow, and just like people; with direction it
can be molded. Also like people and plants it has mind of its own and
sometimes rejects the direction in which we lead it. Often the
resulting pot is better than what we intended at the start. This is why
I love working in clay and why my style is not highly refined or rigid.
I gently guide the clay and the glaze but rejoice in letting them
become what they will by the other forces they encounter. Just like
planting a seed in the garden, even when I have specific plans for it
I’m never exactly certain what it will be until it is fully developed.
I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy sharing it with you.